CD 173 (Fall 2010) Curriculum for Young Children: Math, Science, and Technology


Day 1 (Sept 10): Introduction
Course Overview
In Class Activity I: Working with Frameworks and Standards
Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks
NCTM standards
National Science Education Standards
Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Pre-school and Kindergarten frameworks
In Class Activity II: Working with Curricular Resources
Assignments: Review curricular resource; Pick a lesson plan


Day 2 (Sept 17): From Theory to Practice (PowerPoint)
Duckworth, Ch 1. The Having of Wonderful Ideas (1-14)
Papert, Forward. The Gears of My Childhood.
Inquiry, Ch 1. The Process of Inquiry into Math, Science, and Technology (3-19)
MSYC, Unit 1. How Concepts Develop (2-26)
MSYC, Unit 2. How Concepts are Acquired (27-39)
In Class Activity: Lesson Plan Presentation 1
Assignments: Pick a math story book; Peer Review Forms


Day 3 (Sept 24): Children’s Mathematical Development I (PowerPoint)
Duckworth, Ch 5. The Virtual of Not Knowing (63-68)
Duckworth, Ch 7. Understanding Children’s Understanding (83-99)
Born Mathematical, Ch 5. Infants and Toddlers (135-182)
-- Ch 6. Preschool Age (183-238)
-- Ch 7. Kindergarten and First Grade (239-290)
-- Ch 8. Second and Third Grade (291-348)
Early Years, Ch 18. Using Storybooks to Help Young Children Make Sense of Mathematics (161-168)
In Class Activity: Lesson Presentation 2
Assignments: Brainstorm first lesson plan; Peer Review Forms

Day 4 (Oct 1): Children’s Mathematical Development II
Inquiry, Ch 7. Classifying, Comparing, and Constrasting (102-117)
Inquiry, Ch 10. Number Sense in Math (146-160)
Inquiry, Ch 14. Exploring Basic Math and Number Sense (219-238)
Early Years, Ch 6. The Development of Informal Counting, Number, and Arithmetic Skills and Concepts (48-65)
In Class Activity: Exploring Manipulatives; Lesson Preparation
Assignments: Complete Lesson Plan


Day 5 (October 8): Children’s Mathematical Development III
Early Years, Ch 7. Geometric and Spatial Thinking in Young Children (66-79)
Inquiry, Ch 15. Exploring Math in Shape, Space, and Time (239-263)
MSYC, Unit 17. Ordering, Seriation, and Patterning (240-256)
MSYC, Unit 18. Measurement: Volume, Weight, Length, and Temperature (257-269)
MSYC, Unit 19. Measurement: Time (270-283)
MSYC, Unit 20. Interpreting Data Using Graphs (284-293)
In Class Activity: Lesson Presentation 3 (one-on-one)
Assignments: Peer Review Form


Day 6 (Oct 15): Math: Assessment and Critical Perspectives (PowerPoint)
Kafai et al. Game design as an interactive learning environment fostering students’ and teachers’ mathematical inquiry (149–184)
Murray et al. Where's the Math in Computer Games?
Andee: Math that Matters.
Early Years, Ch 21. Assessing the Math Understanding of the Young Child (182-188)
In Class Activity: Evaluating Commercial Math Products; Lesson Preparation
Assignments: Complete Lesson Plan; Product Evaluation Report (Powerpoint)


Day 7 (Oct 22): Children’s Scientific Development I (PowerPoint)
Scientist, Ch 2. A Constructivist Curriculum Model for Science (19-28)
MSYC, Unit 39. Materials and Resources for Math and Science (566-580)
Pathway, Ch 3. Key Science Practices (31-54)
Whirlpool, Ch 1 & 2. The Science Program in the Early Childhood Classroom | Inquiry in the Early Childhood Classroom (1-23)
In Class Activity: Complete remaining lesson presentations 3; Review Math Outlines
Assignments: Peer Review Form


Day 8 (Oct 29): Children’s Scientific Development II (PowerPoint)
Inquiry, Ch 5. Exploring (73-86)
Inquiry, Ch 17. Exploring Earth Science (288-312)
MSYC, Unit 37. Environmental Awareness (540-549)
In Class Activity: Playground Research Presentation; Individual meetings with Clement


Day 9 (Nov 5): Children’s Scientific Development III (Biology Physical Science )
Whirlpool, Ch 3. Life Science in the Early Childhood Classroom (24-65)
Whirlpool, Ch 4. Physical Science in the Early Childhood Classroom (66-142)
Scientist, Ch 5. How Can I Make It Move? Constructivist Physics (67-98)
Scientist, Ch 7. How Does It Fit or How Do I Fit? Constructivist Biology (125-142)
Inquiry, Ch 16. Exploring Physical Science (264-287)
Assignment: Peer Review Forms; Lesson 4.


Day 10 (Nov 12): Science: Assessment and Critical Perspectives
Chittenden & Jones. Science Assessment in Early Childhood Programs.
Conezio & French. Capitalizing on Children's Fascination with the Everyday World to Foster Language and Literacy Development.
Desouza. Early Childhood Science: Adopting the Reggio Emilia Approach.
In Class Activity: Study Group Presentation. Evaluate Science Products
Assignment: Peer Review Forms; Product Evaluation Report; Outline of Curriculum


Day 11 (Nov 19): Learning with Technology
Clements & Sarama. The Role of Technology in Early Childhood Learning.
Clements & Sarama. Strip Mining for Gold: Research and Policy in Educational Technology: A Response to "Fool's Gold”
Robots, Ch 1. Constructionism as Developmentally Appropriate Practice (13-29)
Robots, Ch 5. Interview with Rebecca New (60-66)
In Class Activity: Tangible Interface (DevTech); Lesson Preparation 5.
Assignment: Work on Curriculum; Lesson 5


Day 12 (November 26): HAPPY THANKSGIVING


Day 13 (December 3): Tech: Assessment and Critical Perspectives
National Academy of Engineering. Technologically Speaking: What is Tech Lit?
Technological Fluency
CITL: Being Fluent with Information Technology. Executive summary
Haugland & Shade Software evaluation for young children. (63-76)
Buckleitner. The State Of Children's Software Evaluation--Yesterday, Today And In The 21st Century (211-220)
In Class Activity: Educational Technology Evaluation; Lesson 5 presentation.
Assessment: Product Evaluation Report; Final curriculum

Day 14 (Dec 10): Presentation of Curriculum Proposal
Students will present their final projects to the class
Course evaluation
Final reflection
Turn in final project